CAMPBELLS VS. THORNTONS

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The early morning air was crisp, the cool breeze brushing against my face as I slipped back into the estate, the familiar stone walls looming over me like silent sentinels. I moved quickly, my heart racing, knowing full well that I couldn't go undetected for long. The sky was just starting to lighten, streaks of pale blue and pink stretching across the horizon, and the stillness of the house told me everyone was still asleep. Or so I thought.

As I crossed the threshold into the dimly lit foyer, the quiet crackle of tension hit me immediately. I froze. They were awake. My father's voice echoed down the hallway, low and furious, and I could make out the muffled sounds of my mother's controlled tone cutting through the silence. Panic twisted in my chest, but I kept moving, determined to reach my room before they found me.

I rounded the corner, but before I could even make it halfway to the stairs, I was spotted. A shadow detached itself from the wall-it was Maria, standing there in her quiet, poised manner, her eyes widening as she saw me. She moved toward me, her expression carefully neutral, but there was no hiding the concern in her eyes.

"Cristine," she whispered, barely audible as she hurried to meet me. "Where have you been? They've been looking for you."

"I know," | mumbled, guilt starting to creep in. " just needed some space."

Maria nodded slowly, her brow furrowing as she studied me. "They've been worried," she said softly, glancing over her shoulder as if to check that no one else was around. "Your mother-she thought you were getting better."

I couldn't bring myself to look at her, instead staring down at the floor. "I... I'm fine, Maria. I just... I needed to get away for a bit."

She didn't respond immediately, but her hand rested gently on my arm, her grip firm but comforting. "You should go upstairs," she murmured, her voice low and full of understanding. "I'll tell them I've found you, but be prepared. They're upset."

I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting with dread. Of course they would be. I had left without a word, without even thinking about the consequences. My father, with his stern authority, and my mother, who had been convinced that the medication was working... neither of them would understand why I had to get out.

Without another word, I turned and made my way up the stairs, the wooden steps creaking underfoot.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of what awaited me sinking deeper into my bones. I could feel Maria's eyes on my back, but I didn't turn around. I couldn't.

---

The next morning, I woke to the soft rustle of fabric. I blinked slowly, my eyes adjusting to the morning light streaming through the curtains. As my vision cleared, I saw her—my mother, seated gracefully in the chair beside my bed. Her posture was impeccable, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her gaze steady and unwavering.

"Mother?" My voice came out in a groggy whisper, thick with the remnants of sleep.

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she regarded me for a long moment, her expression calm but firm. There was an elegance to her presence, a quiet authority that filled the room.

"Cristine," she began, her voice soft but laced with a quiet reprimand. "Where did you go last night?"

I shifted under the covers, my heart sinking. "I just needed some space," I mumbled, though the excuse sounded weak even to my own ears.